Science Meets Art – Science of Microplastics and the Art of Plastics 

 As part of the LimnoPlast conference, the artist Mbongeni Buthelezi was a guest at L’Academie du Climat. Using novel techniques developed by himself, he processes plastic waste into expressive images and sculptures with colorful textured surfaces. During the conference dinner, the researchers of LimnoPlast and the participants got in contact with the artist and had the chance to see him working on his latest artwork. Many conversations were held and together the current problems around plastics were discussed. 

Mbongeni Buthelezi was born in 1965 in Newcastle/South Africa and grew up in Johannesburg. After studying at the African Institute of Art in Cape Town, he completed a teacher training course at the Johannesburg Art Foundation. This was followed by studies at Witwatersrand University, from which he graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. Buthelezi works with a unique technique: he creates his works from plastic waste by using a heat gun to melt it onto a thick plastic sheet for roofing.